65 West 13th Street

Add To Collection

65 West 13th Street

Firm

Jonathan B. Held A.I.A. Architect

Type

Residential › Apartment

A young, professional couple and their three children occupy a two-story loft that was once a part of the old Macy’s department store. The final plan, which incorporated a new kitchen and near-complete furnishings, was the result of a substantial modification of the existing layout. Two new bedrooms for the children were created as was a third bathroom, custom cabinetry and a den. Their only requirements: a tight budget and several pieces of furniture that the couple wanted to keep. Otherwise, they gave designer, Guillaume Gentet, the freedom to build their dream apartment. The vision for the new four-bedroom home was inspired by his client’s youthful, yet sophisticated, lifestyle as well as a growing art collection.The designer’s first important realization was the ability to see unused space in the 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit. The expanded layout included 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms. In order to do so, the original kitchen area became the third bathroom and an office space. The original dining area was divided in half to create the new children’s bedrooms. Sliding pocket doors with frosted pink and blue glass were positioned to maximize hallway space and to create an illuminated ambiance in some of its darker recesses. Wooden railings and balustrades were replaced with iron and frosted glass. Mirrors placed along the walls of the foyer were “recycled” from the stainless steel sliding doors in the original living room. Gentet also designed built-in cabinetry for the dining room that complemented the Chinese armoires that his clients already possessed.Children’s bathroom: The newly-created third bath replaced the original space of the kitchen. The client wanted the space to, not only, be kid-friendly but also incorporate substantial storage. A special toilet that ran drainage through the wall rather than the floor was also required. The washer and dryer were also relocated to create a passageway from the children’s room.Once a third bathroom was built, there was still enough space to create a comfortable office space for two. A built-in desk and storage area were created that sought to fully-maximize the space. A black-out electrical curtain was also placed in order the hide the office when entertaining or when not in use.Master bedroom (ok as is)The newly-constructed, custom kitchen was the most difficult part of the project. As there had been no electrical or plumbing infrastructure for the new kitchen, all of the floors from the original kitchen had to be moved. New plumbing had to be inserted into the island for a sink. Gentet specified that all electrical receptacles be placed underneath the cabinets. The sliding stainless steel doors that existed in the previous living room were recycled into frames for the mirrors in the foyer. Three, newly framed panels were created. One became a mirrored door that provided access to the electrical box.Custom white-lacquered cabinetry was built along the periphery of the living area. The 1920’s armchairs were reupholstered in a brush velvet chevron pattern. A cust0m-designed ottoman with a tray inset serves as a child-proof coffee table. The sectional is, actually, “a slip cover”.A glimpse of the client’s taste for quirky, yet subtle, paintings and sculpture. A series of intimate paintings (left) are grouped with adobe-colored leather chair in master-bedroom. A palm tree sculpture in the middle of a pipe-cleaner like web sits in the living area.

Product Spec Sheet

Were your products used?

Join as a manufacturer to add your products.

Collaborating Firms

Was your firm involved? Add it now.

Team

Were you involved? Add yourself.

Keep Exploring Architizer by Creating a Free Account or Logging in.

65 West 13th Street

65 West 13th Street

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team